In short, the expected mega-blockbusters were indeed mostly mega-blockbusters, the expected middle-of-the-road hits were just that, while the films pegged most likely to flop or at least financially disappoint did just that.

While there are many reasons to praise the $14 million six-day opening of The Debt, the most surprising thing about it is that Focus Features debuted the film wide enough to achieve that kind of opening in the first place.

Sex & the City 2 opens worldwide on Thursday. Expectations are running high, with the general consensus that it will perform in a similar fashion to the first picture. But the odds are indeed stacked against it.